Page 19 of Bound By Longing

“You’re not a threat to me, Lev. Get out.”

Damien’s guards grab Lev and haul him back down the stairs.

“Who was that?” I ask.

Damien mutters under his breath as he sits back down. “He was nobody. Just some asshole trying to get ahead in life.” He pats the spot beside him. “Now, where were we?”

“I was asking for a phone so I could go back home.”

He settles his eyes on me for a long moment before he stands back up. “I have an even better idea. I’m going to take you home with me.”

“What? No, I don’t want to.”

“You need protection, Mila. I can offer it to you. Spend some time at my house, and then if you want to go home, I won’t stop you. How does that sound?”

“How do I know you won't try to stop me if I go with you?”

“I won’t. I promise. Come home with me, and if you want to go, I’ll let you go.”

Out into a dark world on my own, I remind myself. I can’t be flirting with Damien. I can’t trust him. Vik would shake me for being naïve and stupid for going off alone with Damien.

But my options are to leave the club on my own and risk running into Vladimir again or to go with Damien into his world, where he has all the power.

“I can leave whenever I want?”

“You can leave whenever you want.”

With a shaky breath, I nod. “I’ll go with you.”

Damien opens his car door for me. I know the moment I get inside, my life will change forever. I could be naively going to my death. Though, why Damien would want to kill me, I have no idea.

I glance around at the dark streets before and behind me and know that if I try to run, I’ll only end up hurt somehow. Vlad could be waiting in the darkness.

I decide to get into Damien’s car.

“Why do you want me to go home with you?” I ask once we’re driving away from the club.

He slants his eyes toward me before turning back to the road.

I flush. “You’re not trying to seduce me, are you?”

“Seduce? I would never dream of it.” I can tell he’s lying. He told me flat-out that he wanted to have sex with me. Boris wanted to marry me. Gleb wanted to sell me off for money. And Vladimir wanted me as a maid and, when that proved useless, wanted to sell me for money too. Never has a man flat-out told me he wanted me for … me.

Not until now.

“I’m waiting for marriage, Damien. You can’t seduce me.”

“Understood.”

“You do?”

“Mila, if I said I understood, I’m telling the truth. What you’re telling me is I have no chance of fucking you. Not unless I marry you. Understood.”

I shake my head and stare out the window. If I look at him, I’ll lose all my nerve. “Why are you so crass?”

“Not speaking like a prince charming, am I?”

No, you’re not.

---